Citizenship oath choice: King or Canada

Summary#

This bill changes the Citizenship Act to offer two oath options at citizenship ceremonies. New citizens may swear allegiance either to the King of Canada or to Canada. Both options keep the pledge to follow the laws and the Constitution, which recognizes Indigenous rights. The bill takes effect the day after it receives Royal Assent (Coming-into-force).

• Adds a choice of oath: allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III or to Canada (Clause 1, new s.24(a)–(b)).
• Keeps the promise to observe Canadian laws and the Constitution, including Aboriginal and treaty rights (Clause 1, new s.24(a)–(b)).
• Repeals the Schedule that held the old oath text and puts the wording in the Act itself (Clause 2).
• Applies the change the day after Royal Assent; ceremonies must adjust at once (Coming-into-force).

What it means for you#

• Households and prospective citizens:

  • You may choose between two oath wordings at your ceremony: allegiance to the King or allegiance to Canada (Clause 1, new s.24(a)–(b)).
  • You still pledge to follow Canadian laws and the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples (Clause 1).
  • The change applies only to people who must take the oath under the Act; current citizens do not need to do anything (Clause 1).

• Citizenship ceremony officials and IRCC staff:

  • You must offer both oath options “in accordance with the regulations” and update scripts, forms, and ceremony guidance (Clause 1, new s.24; “in accordance with the regulations”).
  • Materials that cite the Schedule must be updated because the Schedule is repealed (Clause 2).
  • The change takes effect the day after Royal Assent, so implementation needs to be ready immediately (Coming-into-force).

• Indigenous peoples and rights:

  • Both oath options keep the explicit reference to the Constitution’s recognition and affirmation of Aboriginal and treaty rights (Clause 1).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• The bill contains no appropriations, new fees, or revenue changes (Clauses 1–2).
• It requires regulatory and administrative updates (e.g., forms, ceremony scripts, training), but no cost figures are provided in the bill (Clause 1; “in accordance with the regulations”).
• Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Expands choice while preserving core duties: applicants can swear allegiance to the King or to Canada; both oaths pledge obedience to laws and the Constitution (Clause 1, new s.24(a)–(b)).
• Respects freedom of conscience for applicants who object to swearing to the monarch by offering a Canada-focused oath (Clause 1, new s.24(b)).
• Maintains the explicit recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights in the oath language (Clause 1).
• Keeps an oath to the monarch available for those who prefer it, preserving continuity for many ceremonies (Clause 1, new s.24(a)).
• Implementation is limited to updating the oath text and related materials since the change is confined to s.24 and the Schedule (Clauses 1–2).

Opponents' View#

• Shifts away from a single, monarch-centered oath, which some see as a key symbol of Canada’s constitutional monarchy (Clause 1; new s.24(b) omits the monarch).
• Creates two versions of the oath, which could confuse applicants and officials until materials and training are updated (Clause 1; “in accordance with the regulations”).
• Requires immediate operational changes the day after Royal Assent, which may be challenging if regulations and guidance are not ready (Coming-into-force; Clause 1).
• Relies on clear regulations to manage choice at ceremonies; weak guidance could lead to uneven practices across locations (Clause 1; “in accordance with the regulations”).